That same year, another ambitious effort sought to reach Iran for Christ. Mohabat TV began as the first 24/7 Christian satellite channel broadcasting to Iranians in Farsi.

“At first, we thought it was going to be a lot of struggles, and people are not going to be receptive. But we were shocked,” Heart4Iran’s Edwin Abnous says.

“Not too long after the launch, a lot of calls and contacts started coming in; we processed about 700 contacts a day.”

Heart4Iran: a history

(Photo courtesy Ram Singh/Unsplash)

In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, two intersecting trends presented a unique Gospel opportunity in Iran. First, Abnous says, “A couple of leaders went inside the country and experienced the revival that was happening there.”

Second, the growing prevalence of satellite television enabled ministries to bypass government restrictions that hindered traditional evangelistic methods.

“They (Heart4Iran founders) thought, ‘Okay, this is the time to start a satellite channel to preach the Gospel and provide discipleship in Iran,’” Abnous says.

Mohabat TV officially launched on March 1, 2006, as the first continuous Farsi-language Christian broadcast accessible inside Iran. The satellite channel also reached Farsi-speaking audiences in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, as well as the Persian-speaking diaspora.

Soon after the launch, audience response revealed a need for structured pastoral care. Mohabat TV creators developed a follow-up system that incorporated trauma care, round-the-clock accessibility, and privacy.

“God started writing a beautiful story for Iranians, and we’re glad that God has allowed us to be part of this,” Abnous says.

(Photo courtesy Heart4Iran)

The ministry later added a training series for house churches. In 2018, the partnership approach that catalyzed Mohabat TV’s launch matured into a formal platform called Heart4Iran. The network eventually grew to include more than 100 partner ministries, with each contributing to evangelism, discipleship, Scripture distribution, and media production.

Months before COVID-19 lockdowns began, Mohabat TV launched a digital church. The fellowship became a lifeline for countless Persian-speaking believers who needed a safe, consistent connection and discipleship during the pandemic. Expanded satellite reach and digital capacity allowed Heart4Iran to respond rapidly to regional crises, including the 2021 Afghanistan crisis.

Openness and opportunity

The Body of Christ in Iran has also grown rapidly over the past two decades.

“During the Shah’s time, we just had 500 Muslim background believers. In 2020, a survey came out, and [it found that] 1.5% of the Iranian population is now Christian,” Abnous says.

“This is about 1 million Muslim background [believers]; that’s a huge increase!”

For the past 20 years, through Heart4Iran, God has used His Word to bring light into dark places. As Bibles are placed into waiting hands, pray that each one finds the right person at the right time. Pray for hearts to be open.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Heart4Iran)

Today, many Iranians are disillusioned and searching. You can help them find Jesus through Heart4Iran. “Iranians are very much open to the Gospel,” Abnous says.

“Islam is bankrupt in Iran, and people are looking for alternative answers. The beautiful answer that they can find and they’re receptive to is the Christian faith.”

Pray for the Heart4Iran team as it expands family discipleship programs, strengthens leadership formation, and develops greater regional production capacity.

“Iranians are moving from [an] organized Islamic government and theocratic situation to a nation that is looking for new opportunities or new alternatives,” Abnous says.

“This door, I’m not sure how long it would be open, and we want to make sure we take advantage.”

Header image courtesy of Heart4Iran. 

Transform Iran’s Lana Silk compares the process to “when parents try to control their children, and they want them to put their shoes on. You say things like, ‘Do you want to put your shoes on? Or shall I?’

“You’re giving a sense of choice, but really, you’re deciding the outcome.”

Presidential candidates for Iran’s 2024 elections.
(Screenshot)

She adds that the odds aren’t great for the one candidate who isn’t a hardliner. “Probably the only potential promise on that list [of candidates] is Pezeshkian. He’s the only reformist in that pool,” Silk says.

“He was quoted in an interview in September 2022, when Mahsa Amini protests were happening, saying it’s our (the government’s) fault. But for the same reason, I would be very surprised if he was elected.”

Due to the government’s approach to elections, Iranians have lost hope in political change through voting. One poll puts the number of those who say they’re not willing to vote at 80 percent.

Believers know Who holds their future, regardless of the outcome of upcoming elections. “The government, the rules, the legal system, and the country they live in stand against them. On paper, the future is against them. But God is ultimately in control,” Silk says.

“We know that God loves them; He is for them. I think that has to be the same for all of us,” she continues.

“Our true hope, security, and future lie in Christ only. That certainly is the case for Christians in Iran today.”

Pray for strength and courage for Iranian Christians. Pray that desperate Iranians will somehow encounter the Gospel. Learn how Transform Iran makes Christ accessible in Iran.

“The most powerful thing we can do today is to pray and also to be a voice for the people of Iran, who can feel very isolated on the world scene, particularly with all that’s happening in the Middle East today,” Silk says.

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Inimafoto A/Pexels.

A new report from Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and France’s Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) says executions surged for the second year in a row in Iran as authorities targeted protestors involved in the ‘Women. Life. Freedom.’ movement.

Official sources noted 125 executions in 2023, but the report lists at least 834 executions – a 43 percent increase since 2022 and the second-highest number of state-sanctioned killings since records began. At least 22 of those who died last year were women, the report says, the highest number since 2013.

Yet those surrendered to Christ do not fear death. “The vast underground church movement inside Iran is primarily led by women. They have left Islam and become Christian,” Mike* with Heart4Iran says.

Heart4Iran recently gathered these young Iranian Christ-followers and their male counterparts for a leadership development discussion.

“God has given these younger believers such amazing tools to contribute to Iranian society,” Mike says.

“These are people who are saying, ‘I matter; I can change the destiny of my nation, and I am brave enough to stand in the gap.’”

Many young believers tell Heart4Iran that their unique giftings don’t have a place in the local church.

“When a young Muslim becomes a Christian, their zeal for Christ translates to an innate desire to serve the Lord. Most often, [young people say,] ‘The only way I can be an effective Christian leader is to be a pastor or serve within the church building,’” Mike says.

(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)

“That model is not a holistic model for the growth of a Christian movement within the context of a society and a nation. God is raising Christian believers leading from the context of the marketplace,” he continues.

“Defining a leader goes beyond the church context. The survival of the Church and Christian movement in Iran depends on Christian leaders within the marketplace.”

Heart4Iran is helping young leaders finetune and develop their skills and passions, enabling them to serve God through vocation. The first way you can help is also the easiest and most important.

“Please pray for the younger, emerging leaders to understand that to be an effective, efficient leader does not mean that you have to serve in the church only,” Mike requests.

“Pray [Heart4Iran can] train enough leaders organically so they would stay inside their own countries and have an impact through their skills and love for the Lord.”

*Name withheld for security purposes.

Header image depicts a snapshot from the emerging leaders’ conference hosted by Heart4Iran. Faces blurred for security purposes. (Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)

“When we talk about the mission field that is Iran, we are talking about a rapidly increasing harvest. Iranians are interested,” Transform Iran’s Lana Silk says.

“They want to hear the Gospel, but an immediate need becomes, ‘Do we have enough people who can lead the hundreds and thousands who are coming to the Lord?’”

New believers need strong leaders because “there are so many things that need to be completely relearned by someone who comes from a Muslim background,” Silk continues.

“You need people who can walk with them and teach them, ‘God is not like who you thought Allah was. No, God is not angry with you. He’s not waiting to judge you. He loves you. He wants to hear your voice.’”

Transform Iran is committed to developing leaders that will change Iran and the surrounding region. More about that here.

The ministry uses one-on-one counseling and mentoring, intensive live training seminars, and a host of digital and printed media to support and equip leaders as they grow in Christ.

Your help makes it all possible. Find ways to support Transform Iran’s work here.

Make sure you add Iran to your daily prayer list, too. “Prayer is the most important, isn’t it? If we don’t do it (our work) through the power of anointing of the Holy Spirit, then we’re doing it in human strength, and then we’re in trouble,” Silk says.

“Let’s pray for those who come to know Jesus — that they are grounded in the Word, that they grow as disciples; pray that they’re fruitful. Pray that leaders are raised up [who] can look after this growing church.”

Header image courtesy of Transform Iran.

Church partners set up a temporary shelter in a sports arena in Türkiye.
(Photo courtesy of Transform Iran)

Transform Iran was one of the first groups to respond, helping hundreds of Iranian Christian refugees in Türkiye. More about that here.

“We were one of the few that were given access to one of the hardest-hit places,” says Transform Iran’s Lana Silk.

“We took 10 tons of food and hygiene supplies, clothing, and blankets to our immediate vicinity.”

Tremendous needs remain today. “It’s a monumental task that the government has to rebuild after such a big hit,” Silk says.

“Quite a few different sociopolitical elements at play make the situation untenable. There are still buildings broken into rubble that’s not even been cleared, let alone thinking about foundation work or replacement,” she continues.

“Christian refugees are being forced into uninhabitable living situations. Our group has families who aren’t using gas or electricity [so they can save] money, having to wear warm clothing to survive, not having three meals a day.”

Deportation is a daily threat as pressure mounts on the Turkish government to expel refugees.

“We have people who will suddenly get told, ‘Oh, actually, we’re going to deport you, and you have 24 hours’ notice.’ This is becoming a common experience for our people, and they get sent to deportation camps,” Silk says.

“The husband of one of our couples had a stroke right there in their offices because the stress of that news is intense.”

Click here for practical ways to help your brothers and sisters in Christ through Transform Iran.

“Could you go without a weekly coffee and support a family in need? The same dollars go so much further in a place like Türkiye, and these families are in great need,” Silk says.

Header image depicts damages from the February 2023 earthquakes in Turkiye. Photo courtesy of Horizons International.

Soon after Mahsa Amini died in 2022, the Iranian government allowed police to use AI-assisted tools to crack down on protestors. This reportedly led to more than 20,000 arrests and the killing of 500+ young protesters.

Heart4Iran’s Laurelle Gallant says, “Iran has been pursuing a goal of becoming a top 10 AI nation [by 2032.] The country has made significant progress in AI research and applications such as license plate recognition [and] face recognition.”

Today, AI-powered surveillance helps police identify and oppress women who flaunt the hijab laws. Authorities use the same types of tools to target Christians.

“The development of AI in Iran could pose challenges and opportunities for our work,” Gallant says.

“On one hand, [AI] could make it harder for us to operate safely and effectively in a hostile environment. On the other hand, it could create new avenues for us to communicate and connect with Iranians who are curious and hungry for the Gospel.”

Gallant describes four ways you can help Iranian Christians through Heart4Iran.

First, “Listeners and readers who are concerned about the situation in Iran and the fate of Iranian Christians should respond by praying for them fervently and regularly,” she says.

“Number two, they [can] support Heart4Iran’s work financially to provide Bibles and other resources to deepen the walk of believers in Iran and set the tone for future generations.”

(Graphic courtesy of Heart4Iran)

Research paves the way for a third way to help. Believers can “educate themselves and others about the reality and the needs of Iranian Christians and advocate for their rights and freedoms” by visiting Heart4Iran’s website, Gallant says.

Finally, “you should share the love and hope of Jesus Christ with Iranians and Muslims you may encounter in your community or online. It’s a shame and honor culture, so evangelizing will be different than evangelizing to Westerners,” she continues.

“[At Heart4Iran,] we offer and host a Muslim next-door training at churches. We can come to your church for a day or half a day and give training to help you understand the cultural differences and help cause your evangelism to Muslims to be more effective.”

Contact Heart4Iran here to learn more.

Header and story images courtesy of Heart4Iran.

(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)

This summer, Türkiye’s new interior minister began increasingly deporting non-Turkish people to curry favor with voters before the March elections. Detainments and forced deportations are rising as year-end approaches:

According to statistics from the interior minister, since mid-June, 112,000 undocumented foreigners have been detained, of which 48,000 have been deported. Lawyers and activists consulted for this article stress that among the detained are asylum-seeking individuals, people who are in the process of renewing their residency permits and even those whose documentation is in order.

“After COVID, they [began] sending Iranian Christians back to Iran,” says Pastor Amir Javadzadeh, an Iranian Christian leader who partners with Heart4Iran.

“[Now,] after the recent [revolution] about Women. Life. Freedom., they are doing even more [deportations.]”

Believers immediately encounter persecution when they return to Iran. Authorities “keep them in prison” without access to lawyers or human rights advocates, Javadzadeh says.

“The Iranian government [says,] ‘If we interview you on TV and you say you’re a fool, or you’re stupid [because] you became Christian, we can give the better life to you.’ Praise the Lord, none of the Christians did these things.”

Heart4Iran is a network of ministries furthering the Great Commission in Iran and beyond. Learn how you can help Iranian Christians in Türkiye here.

Ask the Lord to meet the daily needs of His people. “Iranian people in Turkey are suffering so many things,” Javadzadeh says.

“Everything [has become] very, very expensive. Some people [are] freezing [or] they have nothing to eat.”

Pray He will provide a safe haven for believers. “Iranian [Christians] run away from Iran and go to Turkey, and they have no other place to go,” Javadzadeh says.

“They are selling everything they have to be free to worship, but even in Turkey, they are not safe anymore.”

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Meg Jerrard/Unsplash.

(Photo courtesy Heart 4 Iran)

Hardline clerics are exploring how AI can help them enforce Islamic law. Heart4Iran’s Laurelle Gallant says, “Religious leaders in Iran have argued that AI can be used for helping clerics issue fatwas faster and more effectively.”

A fatwa is a legal ruling issued by an Islamic leader. “Most clerics spend weeks or months poring over Islamic texts, social media accounts, emails, and search histories of their people to find infractions against Sharia law,” Gallant explains.

“AI could speed up both the research and the public release of fatwas.”

These edicts are used on everything from personal hygiene to Christian persecution, she adds. Ironically, Iran issued a fatwa against AI earlier this year.

“It is possible that [Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei has reconsidered his stance on AI after seeing its potential benefits for the Islamic Republic,” Gallant says.

Christian leaders who partner with Heart4Iran “are aware of the potential risks of AI being used for surveillance, censorship, propaganda, and oppression … are calling for a responsible and ethical use of AI that respects human rights and values,” Gallant says.

“If AI can help issue fatwas more effectively and quickly, it can also increase the frequency and severity of the anti-Christian fatwas, which could endanger the lives and freedoms of Christian minorities in Iran.”

Now that you know, what will you do? Gallant suggests the following:

• Pray for Iranian Christians fervently and regularly.
• Consider sending Bibles and other resources through Heart4Iran to deepen the walk of Iranian Christians and help guide future generations. More about that here.
• Learn more about the needs of Iranian Christians and advocate for their rights and freedoms. Follow Heart4Iran for regular updates.
• Be ready to share the love and hope of Jesus Christ with any Iranians you encounter in your community.

Header and story images courtesy of Heart4Iran.

Behdin and Sanaz are perfect examples. “Their story is a story of fruitfulness right from the beginning,” Transform Iran’s Lana Silk says.

Nine years ago, the Iranian couple was on vacation in Türkiye. “One of our evangelists shared the Gospel with this couple, and right there on the street, they gave their lives to the Lord,” Silk says.

“They came alive with Jesus in their hearts; they began sharing the Gospel with their friends [and] relatives. Whole families started turning to Jesus as their Lord and Savior.”

Behdin and Sanaz immediately put their faith into action. “In the first year, they opened their home for meetings,” Silk says.

“The church grew quickly and has grown ever since.”

Behdin, Sanaz, and their miracle son
(Photo, caption courtesy of Transform Iran)

These believers soon encountered “fruitfulness” in other arenas, too. Silk says, “Sanaz had major issues with infertility for many years. [Then,] they conceived on the same day they committed their lives to Jesus!”

Read Behdin and Sanaz’s full story here.

Transform Iran needs your help to train 100 more leaders like Behdin and Sanaz. See how and why Transform Iran began training leaders.

“Jesus said Himself, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few,’” Silk says.

“There’s so much we need to do in making sure people who come to know Jesus learn what it looks like to follow Him.”

Even $20 can make a difference. Help Transform Iran disciple and equip 100 leaders here.

Most importantly, pray. “Let’s keep praying that this incredible moment in history with Iran continues while we gather in the harvest,” Silk suggests.

“Pray for many more to be saved, to encounter Jesus in their dreams. Pray that leaders are raised up [who] can look after this growing church.”

In the header image, Iranian Christians baptize a new believer. (Photo courtesy of Transform Iran)

“[In] 2015, our translation teams [started on] a revision,” IBSD’s Nahid Sepeheri says.

“It’s called Today’s Persian Version Revised and is now ready for distribution.”

(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)

Iran is one of the world’s most challenging places to follow Christ, and many Iranians leave the country to practice their faith freely. Approximately two- to three million Iranians live in the diaspora – i.e., outside Iran – but some estimates put the figure as high as five million.

These believers struggle to live for Jesus when they don’t have access to God’s Word. “[The] Bible is meant [for] people to understand,” Sepeheri says.

“Our goal is to make [the] Bible available for people [in] the way they understand without changing the message.”

Even if they have a Bible, some Iranian Christians struggle to understand Scripture because the version is too “advanced” for their literacy level. Using common or simplified language, Today’s Persian Version Revised puts Gospel hope within reach of every believer.

“[We even] have a Bible for children [that does] not use big words,” Sepeheri says.

“This version[’s] audience is people with [a] middle school education. If they can understand, the educated people can understand it too.”

IBSD distributes Bibles to Iranians worldwide. According to Operation World, there are an estimated 1,000 Persian-speaking Iranian churches and house fellowships in the global diaspora, totaling more than 200,000 people.

Ask the Lord to help IBSD reach every Iranian Christian who needs a Bible.

“Iranians are everywhere, so I have to look [for] people [who need Bibles in] each country. It’s a big job,” Sepeheri says.

“Pray God [will] provide [for] us and help us print more to give it free to people wherever they are seeking the Bible.”

Header image is a representative photo courtesy of Engin Akyurt/Pexels.